How to eliminate browser redirects to safesearch.top?

What is safesearch.top?

According to the developers, safesearch.top is a "top-notch" Internet search engine that significantly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results. Judging on appearance alone, safesearch.top may seems similar to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines. Therefore, many users believe that this site is also legitimate. In fact, criminals promote it using rogue download/installation set-ups designed to modify browser options without direct user permission. Furthermore, this website records various data relating to users' browsing activity.

Rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, they modify the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to safesearch.top, and then append targets of all browser shortcuts with this same URL. Therefore, users are automatically redirected to safesearch.top when they search via the URL bar or simply open a browser/new browser tab. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. In addition, users are unable to revert these changes, since set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (third party applications and/or browser plug-ins) to reassign the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible. As mentioned above, safesearch.top (and helper objects) continually monitors users' browsing activity by recording various information. This behavior is very common to fake search engines and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). The collected data might contain personal details that developers use to generate revenue - they sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also aim to increase their revenue by misusing personal data in various ways, thereby posing a serious threat to users' privacy. If you encounter redirects to safesearch.top, uninstall all suspicious programs/browser plug-ins and never visit this rogue site again.

Reimage is a tool to detect malware on your computer. You will need to purchase full version to remove infections.

safesearch.top is virtually identical to searchprotector.net, startme.today, mystartshield.com, search.search-settings.com, and dozens of other fake search engines. All claim to generate improved search results and provide other 'useful features' (for example, local weather forecasts, shortcuts to popular websites, currency exchange rates, etc.), however, the only purpose of all fake search engines is to generate revenue for the developers. They deliver no value for regular users, promote other dubious websites (by generating fake search results), deliver intrusive online advertisements (using the "Pay Per Click" advertising model), and collect various user-system information (which is later sold to third parties). The resultant fake search results and intrusive ads can lead to malicious websites. In addition, the ads often execute scripts designed to download/install malware. Therefore, using a fake search engine is very risky.

How did safesearch.top install on my computer?

As mentioned above, safesearch.top is promoted using rogue download/installation set-ups. This marketing method is called "bundling". Developers are aware that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, they hide details of browser modifications within the "Custom" or "Advanced" options of these processes. By skipping this section, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify various options, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

PUPs are proliferated using the "bundling" method. Therefore, be cautious when browsing the Internet, and when downloading/installing software. Avoid clicking any ads. Research shows that cyber criminals put a great deal of time and money into making intrusive ads appear legitimate. No matter how tempting an ad may seem, do not risk it. Furthermore, download your software from official sources only using direct download links. Carefully analyze each download/installation step (especially the "Custom/Advanced" settings) and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Third party downloaders often include (bundle) third party software. In most cases, users are able to opt-out of these, however, sometimes bundled apps are concealed. Therefore, avoid using these tools if possible. The key to computer safety is caution.

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Mac OSX users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the safesearch.top website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

If you need assistance removing this browser hijacker, give us a call 24/7:(866) 983-7844

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Reimage.

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www.safesearch.top/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.safesearch.top and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove "safesearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the safesearch.top browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove safesearch.top-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.safesearch.top/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.safesearch.top) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "safesearch" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the safesearch.top browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.safesearch.top/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.safesearch.top and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".In the search filter at the top, type: "safesearch.top"Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with safesearch.top browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click the Open Help Menu icon,

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Reset Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious add-ons from Microsoft Edge:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, right click your mouse on these entries and click "Uninstall".

Change your homepage:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings", in the opened tab, click the "+ Add new page" link, after entering your preferred URL, remove the link of browser hijackers by clicking the "X" button next to the associated URL.

Change your default search engine:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". Click the "View advanced settings" button and select "Change search engine". In the opened tab, select your preferred Internet search engine and click "Set as default".

Optional method:

Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), and select Settings.

In the opened tab, click the "Choose what to clear" button.

Click Show more and select everything, and then click the "Clear" button.

If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

Removal assistance:If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove safesearch.top browser hijacker from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

Post a comment:If you have additional information on safesearch.top browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Google+ to stay informed about the latest online security threats.

Our malware removal guides are free. However, if you want to support us you can send us a donation.

A QR code (Quick Response Code) is a machine-readable code which stores URLs and other information. This code can be read using a camera on a smartphone or a tablet. Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of safesearch.top browser hijacker on your mobile device.

Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Reimage. By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.